Play toy for felines, dogs and children

ABSTRACT

A hollow housing including top and sidewalls having access openings formed therein through which the paws of cats and dogs or forearms of children may be thrust from the exterior of the housing. A play object is disposed within the housing for free movement therein and the size and shape of the housing as well as the locations of the access openings are such that the play object may be reached while positioned in any location within the housing by a cat, a dog or a child disposed on the exterior of the housing, the overall size of the housing being determined by whether it is to be used by large cats and/or dogs or children.

United States Patent Gommel [72] Inventor: Harry L. Gommel, 2869 Calle Aventura,

Miraleste, Calif. 90732 22 Filed: Jan. 30, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 7,095

3,543,287 11/1970 Henkel ..220/60 3,360,153 12/ 1967 Wheaton ....220/60 2,086,631 7/1937 Munro ..119/29.5 3,101,946 8/1963 Ebert ..273/113 600,696 3/1898 Patterson ..273/1 13 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-A. Heinz AttorneyClarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A hollow housing including top and sidewalls having access openings formed therein through which the paws of cats and dogsor forearms of children may be thrust from the exterior of the housing. A play object is disposed within the housing for free movement therein and the size and shape of the housing as well as the locations of the access openings are such that the play object may be reached while positioned in any location within the housing by a cat, a dog or a child disposed on the exterior of the housing, the overall size of the housing being determined by whether it is to be used by large cats and/or dogs or children.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 Han'y L Gamma! IN VIiN'I'OK.

PLAY TOY FOR FELINES, DOGS AND ClillLlJREN The play toy of the instant invention has been designed to provide a means whereby small animals such as dogs or cats and children may be provided with a toy that may be played with for extending periods of time without the animal or child tiring of play with the toy. The toy includes an upstanding vertically short hollow cylindrical housing including an upper wall having a centrally disposed access opening therein and one side wall portion having a second access opening therein. A play object is disposed within the housing for free movement and the play object is of a size to pass freely through the access openings, but not sufficiently small to enable the play object to be withdrawn through either the access openings while being held in the hand or paw of the child or animal using the toy.

The size of the housing and relative positions of the access openings is such to require substantially full insertion of the forearm of the animal or child utilizing the playing toy for the animal or child to be able to reach the play object when the latter is disposed the maximum distance possible from the access opening.

The interior of the housing is completely smooth and all exposed internal and external edges are rounded so as to eliminate the possibility of an animal or child injuring his paw or hand while being moved within the interior of the housing.

The main object of this invention is to provide a play toy which, according to the size in which it is manufactured, may be utilized by both children and small animals.

Another object of this invention is to provide a play toy which may be used for extending periods by animals as well as young children without fatigue and in a manner holding the attention of the animals or children.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a play toy in accordance with the preceding object and which may be constructed of various materials.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a play toy which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and interesting to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and capable of holding the attention of small animals and children.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described an claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the play toy;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 2-2 of FIG. ll; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toy in use being played with by a cat and illustrating the manner in which the forearms of the cat may be inserted into the pair of access openings formed in the toy.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral generally designates the toy of the instant invention. The toy 10 includes a hollow housing referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 and a small spherical toy element M which may be constructed of any suitable material.

The housing 12 includes a main body portion 16 which is generally cylindrical in configuration and includes a circular bottom wall 18 closing the lower end of the main body portion 16. In addition, the upper open end of the main body portion 16 includes a generally radially outwardly projecting circumferential flange 20 and the housing 112 further includes a removable top assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 22.

The top assembly 22 includes a dished circular upper end wall 24 having a central opening 26 formed in its lowest central portion and the outer periphery of the upper end wall 24 includes a slightly upwardly projecting peripheral rib or fence 28. Also, the outer periphery of the upper end wall 24 includes a circumferentially extending depending cylindrical flange 30 terminating at its lower end in an inturned annular horizontal flange 32 whose inner diameter is less than the outer diameter of the flange 20. The main body portion 16 and top assembly 22 are constructed of stiff but resilient material such as plastic and the plastic may be transparent, translucent or opaque. Further, it will be noted from FIG. 2 of the drawings that the outer diameter of the flange 20 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the cylindrical flange 30 and therefore it will be appreciated that the top assembly 22 must have its lower flange portion 32 snapped over the flange 20 when applying the top assembly 20 to the upper end of the main body portion 16.

One wall portion 34 of the main body portion 116 has a lower opening 36 formed therethrough of a diameter generally equal to the diameter of the opening 26 and it will be noted that the spherical toy element M is of a diameter less than the diameters of the openings 26 and 36. Accordingly, the toy element M may be readily inserted into the housing 112 through either the openings 26 and 36 although removal of the toy element M from within the housing 12 through the openings 26 and 36 by manual means either by an animal or a child is substantially impossible inasmuch as the diameter of the toy element 14 is only slightly less than the diameter of the openings 26 and 36. Of course, if the housing 12 is disposed on its side with the opening 36 lowermost, the toy element M may roll freely outwardly through the opening 36.

The play toy MD has been specifically designed for use by small animals such as cats although it is to be noted that other animals as well as small children may also use the toy 10. in most instances the housing 112 will be constructed of opaque material whereby a cat such as the cat 38 illustrated in H6. 3 of the drawings may not view the toy element 14 from the exterior of the housing 12 and be forced to feel for the element M with its forearms inserted through the openings 26 and 36.

It has been found that when the cat plays with the my 10 it will eventually be disposed on its side in. the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings and be caused to roll thus enabling the toy element M to be registered with and passed outwardly through the opening 36. It has also been found that a cat will, in some instances, retrieve the toy element M after it has been passed outwardly through the opening 36 and drop the toy element M onto the upper end wall 24 after the housing 12 has been righted with the result that the toy element 14 will then roll toward the opening 26 and fall again into the interior of the housing 12 whereby the cat 38 will] again attempt to play with the toy element M within the housing 12 and subsequently again cause the toy element M to be discharged through the opening 36 in the manner previously described. Therefore, it may be seen that the play toy is capable of occupying a small animal such as a cat, or even a child, for extended periods of time.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A play toy for felines dogs, and children comprizing a hollow housing including upstanding peripheral side wall portions interconnected at their lower ends by means of a bottom wall, a top wall extending between the upper marginal edge portions of said upstanding side wall portions and closing the upper end of said housing, a small generally spherical toy element disposed within said housing for free movement therein, and one of said side wall portions including an access opening therein of a diameter slightly larger than the average transverse dimension of said toy element, the interior of said housing being free of sharp edges, said side wall portions defining a generally cylindrical body, said top wall being removably supported from the upper marginal edge portions of said side wall portions and disposed in snap locked engagement with the latter, the height of said housing being less than its diameter and said top wall having an opening formed therein of approximately the same size as the first mentioned opening, the upper surface portions of said top wall being slightly dished with the opening formed in said top wall being disposed in the lowest portion of said top wall, the outer periphery of said top wall including a circumferential upwardly projecting retaining rim, whereby said generally spherical toy element may be initially rolled about the outer periphery of the top wall inwardly of the retaining rim and retained against rolling off the outer marginal portion of the top wall by the retaining rim until the orbiting speed of the toy element is lowered sufficiently for the slope of the top wall toward the center opening therein to cause the spherical element to roll inwardly toward and downwardly through the center opening in the top wall into the interior of the housing for removal therefrom through the side access opening therein.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein, the upper marginal edge portions of said side wall portions include a horizontally outwardly projecting circumferential annular flange, the peripheral edge portions of said to wall terminating outwardly in a downwardly extending cylindrical flange, the lower extremity of said cylindrical flange terminating in an inwardly directed annular horizontal flange whose inner diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of said cylindrical body, said body and top wall being constructed of stifl but resilient material whereby said annular flange of said top wall may be passed downwardly over the outer periphery of the outwardly directed horizontal flange carried by the upper marginal edge portions of the side wall portions of said body. 

1. A play toy for felines and dogs, and children comprizing a hollow housing including upstanding peripheral side wall portions interconnected at their lower ends by means of a bottom wall, a top wall extending between the upper marginal edge portions of said upstanding side wall portions and closing the upper end of said housing, a small generally spherical toy element disposed within said housing for free movement therein, and one of said side wall portions including an access opening therein of a diameter slightly larger than the average transverse dimension of said toy element, the interior of said housing being free of sharp edges, said side wall portions defining a generally cylindrical body, said top wall being removably supported from the upper marginal edge portions of said side wall portions and disposed in snap locked engagement with the latter, the height of said housing being less than its diameter and said top wall having an opening formed therein of approximately the same size as the first mentioned opening, the upper surface portions of said top wall being slightly dished with the opening formed in said top wall being disposed in the lowest portion of said top wall, the outer periphery of said top wall including a circumferential upwardly projecting retaining rim, whereby said generally spherical toy element may be initially rolled about the outer periphery of the top wall inwardly of the retaining rim and retained against rolling off the outer marginal portion of the top wall by the retaining rim until the orbiting speed of the toy element is lowered sufficiently for the slope of the top wall toward the center opening therein to cause the spherical element to roll inwardly toward and downwardly through the center opening in the top wall into the interior of the housing for removal therefrom through the side access opening therein.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein, the upper marginal edge portions of said side wall portions include a horizontally outwardly projecting circumferential annular flange, the peripheral edge portions of said to wall terminating outwardly in a downwardly extending cylindrical flange, the lower extremity of said cylindrical flange terminating in an inwardly directed annular horizontal flange whose inner diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of said cylindrical body, said body and top wall being constructed of stiff but resilient material whereby said annular flange of said top wall may be passed downwardly over the outer periphery of the outwardly directed horizontal flange carried by the upper marginal edge portions of the side wall portions of said body. 